PR

The Northern Rail crisis has dominated news headlines over recent weeks. Yesterday we were delighted to join the conversation and demonstrate client Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester’s support for affected commuters.

In acknowledgment of the millions of people’s lives disrupted by the debacle, the Northern Rail train at the centre of the leading family attraction’s ‘Mini Land’ feature was stripped out and the railway podium removed from the miniature Lego-built city of Manchester.

Nearly three in ten (29%) of the Barton Square attraction’s customer base, live in the most affected areas of Stockport, Warrington, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Bolton and Wigan with footfall decreasing by half from some of those areas in the last eight weeks.

“The shift in visitor patterns marries with the Northern Rail change to timetables and surge of cancellations and delays.” said Jenn McDonough, General Manager Manchester Cluster, Merlin Entertainments,

“As a Northern business, we depend on visitors from neighbouring areas, and I know we’re not alone. Northern Rail’s ongoing problems are such that it’s impacting on business.”

“The suggestion from staff that the Northern train should be removed from the attraction, we feel, reflects events from the region. Mini Land is a dedication, in Lego form, of what’s great about Manchester, and the North West, today.”

Mini Land, the Lego-built miniature city of Manchester contains over 15,583 bricks, each laid by hand and glued into place by Alex Bidolak, Master Model Builder, and is included within the general admissions price.

The nomination for PR Agency of The Year (small agency category) was announced on Thursday April 12 and sees Rule 5 feature alongside some of the North’s best creative, production, digital and media companies.

Founded in 2013, the Prolific North Awards celebrate excellence and recognise and reward outstanding campaigns and exceptional talent in the creative and media industries across the North.

The results will be announced on May 24th at an exclusive awards ceremony at the Principal Hotel, Manchester.

Rule 5 founders, Jules and Rob, have both been named in separate lists of business influencers this week.

Julie Wilson is featured as one of Manchester’s Women of the Year in A-Magazine. The list of 25 of the city’s most successful women also included the Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Diane Modahl and the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Angela Rayner MP.

The magazine published its selection of influential women on March 1st to mark the centenary of votes being given to some women in 1918. Jules told the magazine: “Emmeline Pankhurst provided women with a voice and it’s a voice that continues to shout loudly. We should never stop striving for a fairer, more balanced world, for everyone.”

Co-founder of the agency Rob Brown is featured in PR Week’s 2018 Power Book. The guide, which lists “the most influential and respected comms professionals in the UK today”, was launched at The Ned in London.

It was described by PRWeek UK editor-in-chief Danny Rogers as “the most rigorously compiled edition since I launched it in 2007.”

Last week saw a significant milestone reached in the development of ICON, Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s new £16.25 million rollercoaster as the final piece of track was installed.

Under the watchful eye of the media, coordianted by Rule 5 and Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the last piece of gleaming grey steel was hoisted into place, completing the 1.14 kilometre track.

The process was conducted by a 50-strong team over a five month period and sees Blackpool Pleasure Beach another step closer to launching what will be the world’s most interactive rollercoaster.

Amanda Thompson OBE, Managing Director at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, commented; “Since construction work began in December 2016 we have seen numerous pieces of material hoisted into position in anticipation of this moment.

“The track comprises of hundreds of tonnes of world-class steel transported from Germany and manufactured using state-of-the-art engineering processes for a smoother, faster and more exhilarating ride than ever experienced before.”

Nick Thompson, Deputy Managing Director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, adds; “Today is the culmination of an intense design and engineering process to bring a ride that is the first of its kind to the UK.

“The completion of ICON’s track has been no easy feat, as it loops through and around the Pleasure Beach’s other rides 15 times. To see the track in its entirety is hugely rewarding and brings us a significant step closer to sharing this unique rollercoaster experience with the public in spring 2018.”

Activity saw yet another strong burst of media coverage for ICON, leading the lunchtime and evening news on BBC North West Tonight along with national UK print titles The Sun and MirrorOnline. A wealth of regional, leisure and tourism titles underpinned coverage. ICON will launch in spring 2018.

The PR campaign delivered by Rule 5 and Blackpool Plesure Beach to promote the new rollercoaster, has been nominated for Media Relations Campaign of the Year in the 2018 PRmoment Awards. The same campaign won Best Use of Media Relations at the CIPR NorthWest Awards in 2017.

The announcement follows a four-way competitive pitch and sees Rule 5 appointed as the retained communications agency for Sea Life Manchester and Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester.

Work is already underway with the team busy developing plans to promote two new features at the popular family attractions, due to launch this spring. The features are the result of a £400k investment and promise to deliver an incredible experience for both first-time and returning guests.

The agency will also be responsible for delivering a sustained national media relations campaign for both attractions and supporting Sea Life Manchester’s acclaimed conservation programme.

Speaking on the announcement Jenn McDonough, General Manager Manchester Cluster, Merlin Entertainments, said: “Sea Life Manchester and Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester are two of our leading attractions and have been inspiring, exciting and educating families for over seven years.

“With the forthcoming launch of two new features the time was right for us to review our marketing approach and appoint a new agency to support us in driving the business forward. It was a competitive process that saw some great pitches but the communications plan presented by Rule 5 was head and shoulders above the rest, combining strong creative ideas with a solid and strategic approach. We really bought into the team.”

Agency Co-Founder Julie Wilson added: “This is a brief we were passionate about winning. The scope of opportunity presented by the attractions, the forthcoming new features and incredible conservation work undertaken by Sea Life Manchester is great and appealed to us both personally and professionally. It’s a privilege to be involved.”

Rule 5 scooped the coveted award for Best Use of Media Relations at last night’s prestigious CIPR PRide North West Awards.

The gold accolade for our work with Blackpool Pleasure Beach recognised the outstanding results achieved for ‘An Icon is Born, a campaign unveiling the name of the leading amusement park’s much-anticipated new £16.25m rollercoaster, due to launch in Spring 2018.

Judges said: “This was an innovative campaign that took the difficult scenario of nothing to show and used multi-media and motion graphics to enhance media content and gain a huge amount of quality media attention in the build up to a new rollercoaster ride being ready for launch. A very effective use of the budget and clear measurable results on media coverage.”

It was one of a hat-trick of achievements for Rule 5 with the agency’s work with premium cycling brand Fat Lad At The Back also recognised in the Best Community Relations and Best Sport, Art and Culture categories. Both saw the agency presented with silver awards.

Speaking on the success Rule 5 Founding Director Jules Wilson said: “We’re incredibly proud of the work we deliver for our clients. To have that work recognised by your industry peers is however fantastic. The calibre of entries shortlisted this year was exceptionally high and we’re thrilled to have received three accolades.”

Rule 5 Founding Partner Rob Brown added: “The Best Use of Media Relations award is widely recognised as the most hotly contested category. To receive this award for our work with Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a real achievement and one we’re incredibly proud of. “

The CIPR PRide Awards recognise outstanding work and celebrate the UK’s PR industry leaders. The CIPR is Europe’s largest professional PR industry body.

The shortlist, announced today (Wednesday October 25), sees Rule 5 recognised in the Best Leisure and Tourism Campaign category for its work with Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The nominated campaign, An Icon is Born, saw the name of the amusement park’s much anticipated new £16.25m rollercoaster, ICON, unveiled to the press, and commanded headlines nationwide.

Speaking on the nomination, Rule 5 Founding Director Jules Wilson said: “Our smiles say it all, we’re absolutely over the moon to feature. The campaign was a fantastic team effort and it’s brilliant to see the hard work of everyone involved acknowledged, not just here in the UK but on a global platform too.”

The Drum Network Awards recognise excellent marketing and strategic work created by agencies around the world, rewarding agencies who push the boundaries and demonstrate impressive growth despite uncertain times.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square on November 28.

It is the fourth awards nomination for the campaign this year, with Rule 5 and Blackpool Pleasure Beach also nominated in the Northern Marketing Awards and the CIPR PRide Awards (x2).